A corpo



C. W. COFFIN.

FOLDlNG TABLE.

APvucArloN FILED luLY 24. ma

l UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. COFFIN, F PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR T0 THE COBURN TROLLEY j TRACK MANUFACTURING- COMPANY, OF CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPO- FOLDING TABLE.

To all whom 'it may concern:

l citizen of the United States, and resident of Portland, county of Cumberland, State of Maine, have invented an Improvement in Folding Tables, of which the following de scription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts in each of the several views. Y l

.This invention relates to folding tables and more particularly to relatively light and portable types of table suchv as card tables and the like. In card tables 'with' folding legs it has heretofore been considered impracticable to brace the legslaterally for the reason that it is requisite that the respective legs shalll fold inward underneath the topextending along the sides thereof and within the confines ofthe top when folded. Thus with a square top of ordinary card table dimensions, it requires substantially the entire extent of the side edge of the top to accomlmodate the folded in leg, hence'not leavingy an room for a lateral brace, with the result that such, tables have heretofore been very l unstable and shaky, and. hence not suitable for any use requiring any degree of steadiness. A prime object of the present invention is to provide a table ofthe kind'described with folding legs that, while of the requisite length and capable of'being folded` in against the top, are adequately braced so that while the table may be made quite as light in weight and small in dimension of top as heretofore, the top is held steady and against shaking or vibration, thus adapting the table for numerous other uses in household economy including use as a lunch table when desired. To this end I mount the-several table legs on pivots sov that the free 'ends thereof extend somewhat diagonally inward from the edges of the top along whichv they are disposed when folded in thus mak; ing room for the placing of a brace at the inner portion of the leg without reducing the length of the leg; The foregoing and other objects and advantages ,of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description, and the distinctive features of novelty will be pointed out' in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure lis a bottom plan view showing a Specioaton of Letters Patent. Patented June 10, 1919.v application vinea Iuiy 24, 1918. Aserial no. 246,516. i f

table constructed in accordance with my invention, with the legs folded in underneath the top;

Fig. 2 is fragmentary sidey elevationshowing a portion of the top with a leg extended and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation `at right angles to Fig. 2 and showing the present addltional stifening brace.

. The top 10 of the table isshown as rectangular' and square with peripheral rails 11 extending around the underside thereof.

In these tables which to serve as card tables vare usually made with an edge dimension of about thirty inches, it has been necessary in orderto providelegs of requisite length and have the same fold in underneath the top, to utilize substantially the entire extent of the-space within the rails 11 and up to the pivot of the next leg as clearance tol receive the folded'in leg. In accordance with my invention the legs 12 arepivoted to pivotV pins v13 adjacent the respective corners of I the table in a manner so that the leg extends from this .pivot in a somewhat oblique or.

diverging relation with respect to the adjacent rail 11. This is accomplished as shown inthe present instance by fitting the pivoted endl of the leg to the inclined face of a rabbeted seat 14 formed in the rail 11 adjacent the end thereof, and setting the pivot pin 13 into 'such rail so as to pivot the leg 12 at the required angle. In accordance with my invention I :fix to the inner portion of this rail a brace 15 which extends outward therefrom .and is pivotally secured at 1'6 in line with the pivot -pin 13 to a metallic g bracket 17 suitably secured to the end of the adjacent rail 11, this bracket preferably and as shown having an upturned. ear 18,

'-through which the pivot 13`is passedz and which serves to guide and support the inner end of the leg. Thus the leg is held to swing on thefsp'aced apart pivots afforded by the pin 13 and the pivotv 16A and is securelybraced with reference to the top against vibration in this direction, while the free end .of the leg being spaced some little distance' straight down fromthe top any suitable means may be provided, thoughpreferably and as shown I employ for this purpose, bars 19 pivoted to the rails at 20 and havlng upward extensions 2l adapted to engage stop pins 22, so that as the lower ends of these'bars which are notched and slidably guided through clips 23 pivoted to the legs, reach operative position, they are placed by the engagement: of the extensions 21 with the pin 22 under some little spring tension so that the notch in the lower end thereof snaps into engagement with the pivot screw of the clip 23 thus holding the leg locked in a manner already known inthe art. The pivoted inner ends of these bars arelikewise fitted' into rabbeted inclined seats in the rails as indicated at 24 so that these bars will op erate in parallelism with the legs in the swinging movement thereof. I thus provide a table that may be of relatively small size and light weight wherein legs of requisite length may be foldedA in underneaththe top and when extended are braced in a manner so as to hold the table top relatively rigid and secure .against shaking or 'vibration which has been a most serious objection in all previous tables of this type known to me. I am aware that the'invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present@ embodimentto be considered in all respects:l

as illustrative and not restrictive reference being had to the' appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention. Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A table, comprising a rectangular top, legs pivoted adjacent the corners thereof to extend each generally alongside an edge of* adjacent leg w en fo an edge of the top when folded thereagainst but with the outer leg portion lying diagonally inward with res ect to such edge, and a brace fixed to each o said legs at an inner portion thereof pivoted to said top in line with the pivot of saidl leg at a point sub'- stantially spaced therefrom, the diagonal disposition of each outer leg portion pernitting it to clear the brace of the adjacent 3. A table, comprising a top with a square supporting frame, legs pivoted to the corners of sald frame and each extending generally alongside one of the edges of said frame but'withits outer portion lying diagonally inward with respect to such edge, and a brace engaged and movable with an inner portionbf each of said legs and pivoted to said frame in line with the pivot of said leg and at a point substantially spaced therefrom, the diagonal positioning of each outer leg portion causing it to clear the brace of the adjacent leg.

4.' A table, comprising a top with a square supporting frame, legs pivoted to the corners of said frame, a brace engaged with an inner portion of each of said legs and pivoted to said frame in line with the pivot of said leg and at a point substantially spaced therefrom, each of said legs lying generally alongside an edge of said frame when folded inward thereagainst and with its outer portion; extending inward from such edge so asto clear said brace,' and means for holding and locking said legs in extended position. -f v 5. A table, comprising Ia top wtha square supporting frame, legs pivoted to th'e corners of said frame and each leg extending generally at ri ht anglles'with res ect to the d d inwar and with its free end then extending past the pivot' of the adjacent leg, a bracket fixed to the frame adjacent each corner thereof and constituting al support for the adjacent leg pivot, and a brace carried by the leg an pivoted to said bracket in line with the leg pivot and at a point substantially spaced therefrom, each leg having its pivot slightly diagonal with respect to said frame so that as it is folded inward its outer portion clears the brace of the adjacent leg.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my naine to thisl specification.

CHARLES W. COFFIN. 

